Residents React to Temporary Mansionization Restrictions

By JACQUELINE PRIMO  |  Reporter

Following the Los Angeles City Council’s unanimous adoption of temporary “mansionization” restrictions in 20 LA neighborhoods on March 25, homeowners and organizations in Pacific Palisades are speaking out about the ordinance.

Even though the Palisades is not one of those 20 neighborhoods, some Palisades areas, such as the Alphabet Streets, could be affected if permanent restrictions are put into place citywide in 12-18 months.
According to Pacific Palisades Civic League (PPCL) president Richard Blumenberg, any citywide changes to the Baseline Mansionization Ordinance (BMO) would have the greatest impact on smaller lots of 5,000-7,500 square feet, which is the typical size of many of the original lots in the Palisades.
At a March 28 ‘Hike with Mike’ event in the Palisades, a number of local property owners spoke with Councilmember Mike Bonin to express their views on the ordinance – some for it, others against it.
In a letter to Bonin dated March 31, the PPCL, which reviews remodeling and new construction plans in Tract 9300 (basically from Chautauqua west to Marquez, excluding the Huntington Palisades and hillside locations), outlined its position on the issue.

“There are several architects and designers on our board and we would like to be given the opportunity to participate in the process of determining what is suitable for the Palisades,” the PPCL states in the letter.
Blumenberg said one of the ordinance’s goals is to provide relief for neighbors and avoid building “block houses” and construction right against the curb.
At a March 23 PPCL meeting, board members said the PPCL’s existing guidelines could offer some insight into how to do this effectively without imposing undue limitations on developers, particularly with smaller lots in the Palisades.
The temporary changes to the BMO reduce the buildable area of a new home to no greater than 45 percent of the lot’s square footage.
The PPCL opposes limiting smaller lots—specifically lots less than 7,500 sq. ft.—to the 45 percent restriction.
“This would be too drastic a reduction for some of the smaller lots in the Palisades,” Blumenberg told the Palisadian-Post.
With the temporary restrictions recently adopted, garages, basements and covered porches all count toward that 45 percent.
The PPCL says basements (complying with the City’s requirements), the first 400 square feet of garage area and the first 250 square feet of first floor porches or second floor covered spaces should not count toward the home’s total square footage.
“Basements shouldn’t count because they are totally buried, and neighbors don’t see them,” Blumenberg said, adding that basements don’t contribute to the visible mass of a home.
“First floor porches give some relief in that they help the home not look so massive,” he added.
The changes to the BMO also eliminate the Green Building Bonus that allows developers to build larger homes in exchange for making certain environmentally friendly choices.
The PPCL supports eliminating the Green Building Bonus.
“The California Green Code mandates green construction,” the PPCL’s letter states.
“Developers shouldn’t get bonuses for following what’s already required,” Blumenberg said.
The PPCL also supports elements of the temporary BMO restrictions that provide relief to neighbors and passersby, including limiting the second story to no more than 75 percent of the area of the first floor and garage.
See page 2 to read the PPCL’s letter in full.